Liverpool are yet to make any concrete moves during this summer’s transfer window.
The Reds had become known for getting their business done early and decisively during Jurgen Klopp’s time in charge.
However, with Arne Slot now in the dugout and getting his bearings at the AXA Training Centre, things have been done differently so far.
That does not mean that Liverpool will not be entering the market, though. There are a couple of areas of the Liverpool squad which could be improved upon and there is reason to believe that the Reds will do it.
One of the key things that most Liverpool supporters would want adding to the team is an elite defensive midfielder.
Liverpool choose Joao Neves as transfer priority
While fans would like to see a top holding midfielder come in this summer, the signs so far have been that Liverpool will focus on other areas.
Liverpool are still in for Leny Yoro, for example, and links to other defenders would suggest that centre-back is FSG’s primary concern at the moment.
The forward line is another area that has seen plenty of rumours attached to it. The latest suggestions are that Liverpool could sign Baris Alper Yilmaz from Galatasaray.
However, in amongst that, there have been some small rumblings of a new midfielder coming in at Anfield.
One of the strongest links so far has been to Benfica midfielder Joao Neves. Neves is a potentially world-class operator who is highly thought of at just 19-year-old.
READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano says Benfica have sent a ‘message’ about Joao Neves after Liverpool links
And according to Portuguese outlet CM Jornal, Liverpool have now decided that Neves is the player they now want to focus their attention on.
They claim that Slot has made the Portugal international his ‘main priority’ for the summer. As a result, Liverpool are reportedly ‘preparing to move forward’ with an offer to Benfica.
Neves will not come cheap, though. The youngster has a release clause of around £101m and the Lisbon side are said to be demanding it be paid in full.
Man United, Chelsea and PSG are also claimed to be keen on Neves, with Benfica reportedly having turned down two offers of more than £51m from unnamed sides.
Bruno Fernandes hails Joao Neves potential
This is not the first time that the Portuguese press have declared that Liverpool are ready to bid for Joao Neves.
The midfielder looks primed to move on from Benfica and join one of Europe’s top clubs in the near future. However, despite the claims here, we’d still be stunned if that ended up being Liverpool.
That isn’t really anything to do with the player himself. Bruno Fernandes thinks Neves is ‘excellent‘ and he is certainly an enormous talent.
But, instead, the price-tag is surely way out of what Liverpool would like to pay for the player. Good as he may be, the Reds could address a number of areas of weakness for that money, rather than just the one.
Should Benfica suddenly decide that they are open to lower offers for Neves, maybe Liverpool will be in the picture. But for over £100m, we somehow don’t think they will.
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